Make Your Mark

It’s no longer enough to use one shade on the walls and white on the woodwork. If you want to make a design statement with paint, don’t hold back. Georgina Blaskey spoke to interior designers and paint brands to find out how.

ISABELLE LOMAS, INTERIOR DESIGNER When choosing to do a paint effect, I would always go for the rooms you are socialising in most, so either the dining room, living room or a games room. I would also make sure there is enough natural light flooding the area, so the colours stay as true as possible to the palette you want. Darker rooms and shadows can make blues turn into greens and vice versa.

If you want to make a statement and show off the space, a great way is to frame it by painting the architraves in a contrasting colour. You could do this by either using two bold colours – one for the wall and another for the woodwork – but make sure not to choose colours that are too close, as it won’t work. Recently we used a neutral colour – Slaked Lime Mid (Paint & Paper Library) – on the main wall and then Picture Gallery Red.

ANTONIA WINKLER VON STIERNHIELM FROM STUDIO ANTON Colour drenching is when an entire room is painted in one colour. Not only can it make the room feel larger, it also allows the eye to focus on the standout pieces of art or furniture. Using one colour also creates a certain mood within the room. Blue was chosen for this study-come-guestroom for its serene and calming properties. This particular mid-blue (Farrow & Ball Lulworth Blue) adds an uplifting and contemporary backdrop to the antique furnishings and jewel-like fabrics within the room. We chose a high gloss finish for an added layer of sophistication, and to bounce the light around this north-facing room.

ALEX KEITH FROM OTTA DESIGN When designing a room never overlook the fifth wall, otherwise known as the ceiling. In a cloakroom at our Wandsworth Common project, we painted the ceiling in high gloss (Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue) to help bounce light around a small space. Using gloss paint on a ceiling is a simple and effective way to make a statement, but be warned – gloss can accentuate imperfections so only use on a perfectly smooth, freshly plastered surface.

ISABELLE LOMAS, INTERIOR DESIGNER When choosing to do a paint effect, I would always go for the rooms you are socialising in most, so either the dining room, living room or a games room. I would also make sure there is enough natural light flooding the area, so the colours stay as true as possible to the palette you want. Darker rooms and shadows can make blues turn into greens and vice versa. If you want to make a statement and show off the space, a great way is to frame it by painting the architraves in a contrasting colour. You could do this by either using two bold colours – one for the wall and another for the woodwork – but make sure not to choose colours that are too close, as it won’t work. Recently we used a neutral colour – Slaked Lime Mid (Paint & Paper Library) – on the main wall and then Picture Gallery Red.

COLOUR

Colour is one of the most effective ways to change the look and feel of your home. Colours can alter the sense of proportion, shape or mood of a room and inject personality to a space. Cool shades create a calming atmosphere whilst warm tones make a space feel cosy and inviting.

Every colour comes in a multitude of shades and tones which can make choosing the right scheme overwhelming.

A classic rule is to follow the 60-30-10 ratio:

60% of your room should be your main colour

30% your secondary colour – perhaps a feature wall, curtains or furniture

10% is your accent colour – all the details that complete the room, the throws, cushions or artwork – and where you can be really playful with stronger colours and patterns.

Don’t be afraid to be bold and experimental with colour.  Source: Clara Bee

(Farrow & Ball) on the architrave and skirting. We teamed this with some red chairs around the dining table and the end result looked fantastic. As a rule, I would steer clear of yellows with red, or green with yellow. If you didn’t want to do a flat colour on the skirting, you could always add some details such as a small scallop and dot pattern. Play around – why not make a stencil if you don’t feel confident but still want to create something unique yourself? For woodwork always use estate or modern eggshell. It will allow you to wipe the surface clean.

IRENE GUNTER FROM GUNTER & CO The colour palette in this bedroom was inspired by the couple’s Puzzle IV artwork by Kim Bartelt that hangs above the bed. Seeing how unexpected colours can work on a canvas makes it much easier to make braver interiors choices. We used Paint & Paper Library’s Roue II on the bottom half of the wall, and a bespoke mixture of that same colour with 50% white added for the top of the wall and ceiling. I used the darker shade of pink on the bottom half of the wall to anchor the space. By brushing on a lighter shade above it, I have seemingly increased the height of the room

“THE TREND IN DARKER PAINT COLOURS – THE DARK BLUES AND GREENS – NECESSITATES USING A PROFESSIONAL DECORATING COMPANY WHO CAN MAKE THAT FEATURE WALL, STUDY OR CINEMA ROOM REALLY ZING” EVEREST DÉCOR

EMMA GREEN, EMMA GREEN DESIGN Paint is one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to change a room and also make a statement. Paint your woodwork a dark shade to make those architectural features really stand out, particularly in Victorian and Edwardian homes. It’s a very old yet highly contemporary trick. I’m loving warm neutrals at the moment and really like blush pink as the warm base colour with a soft black picking out architectural features. Green continues to be so popular, whether a soft pistachio through to a dark racing green. It’s kinder than black and grey and works so well with warm oak woods and warm neutral accents.

“WHITES AND GREYS ARE NOW BEING THROWN OUT FOR WARMER NEUTRAL TONES AND FOR MANY OF OUR CLIENTS, WE MAKE USE OF STRONG COLOURS TO ADD DRAMA, EXCITEMENT AND PERSONALITY – NOT JUST ON SINGLE FEATURE WALLS BUT ACROSS WHOLE AND MULTIPLE ROOMS” ENSOUL

RALUCA RACASAN, CREATIVE CONSULTANT AT PAINT THE TOWN GREEN I encourage clients to play with colour and dare to opt for different schemes other than the classic white ceilings and woodwork. For instance, a radiator will look much more elegant if painted the same colour as the wall. A two-tone wall is a playful option here in a child’s bedroom in Eucalyptus Leaf by Designer’s Guild – it creates a fresh look without being overwhelming on a whole wall.

FINDNG THE RIGHT DECORATOR

Do your homework before engaging a decorating company. Check their previous work by requesting a handful of contact numbers of previous customers and then check if they were happy with reliability, quality of work, tidiness and timeliness. Then check their rating on the various trade association sites such as Checkatrade. com and mybuilder.com. If the ratings and the endorsements marry up, then it augurs well.

Also check if the company will give you a warranty for the work, whether they have insurance to cover any mishaps, and have a conversation about any unforeseen extra work and its cost.

Try to get at least two if not three quotes to check whether the estimate is in the right ballpark and trust your instincts – this person or team will be in your home. Source: Everest Décor

“AFTER SPENDING A LOT OF TIME INDOORS, PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO RE-CONNECT WITH NATURE AND BRING COLOURS SUCH AS NEUTRALS, GREENS, AND BLUES INSIDE THEIR HOMES” GREEN SHEEN/ CAST LONDON

CHARLOTTE COSBY, HEAD OF CREATIVE, FARROW & BALL Painting the inside of your front door is one of our favourite colour tricks. If you can’t paint the street-facing side due to local restrictions, are worried about committing to a shade, or simply want to keep a secret splash of colour for yourself, this is a great way to do it. Plus, when you’re walking downstairs in the early morning, or in the middle of a sleepless night, what better sight to lift your spirits than a little pocket of personal sunshine?